Press Releases

DFD Virtual Press Room 2014

Espresso in SpaceNovember 24, 2014 - Espresso-loving astronauts, rejoice! You may soon be able to enjoy your beloved beverage in space, thanks to a new cup designed specifically to defy the low-gravity environments encountered aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

When Dogs Drink WaterNovember 25, 2014 - If you've ever watched a dog drink water, you know that it can be a sloshy, spilly, splashy affair - in other words, adorable.

How to Save Billions of Gallons of GasolineNovember 25, 2014 - Each year, the more than 2 million tractor-trailer trucks that cruise America's highways consume about 36 billion gallons of diesel fuel, representing more than 10 percent of the nation's entire petroleum use. That fuel consumption could be reduced by billions of gallons a year through the use of drag-reducing devices on trucks, according to studies by researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

The Physics of Jackson PollockNovember 24, 2014 - Jackson Pollock, one of the greatest American artists of the 20th century, revolutionized abstract expressionist painting in the mid-20th century with his unique "drip" technique -- masterpieces of densely tangled lines of color that Pollock often created from thinned household enamel paints. Now, an experimental technique developed by fluid dynamicists at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México in Mexico City may help reveal exactly how Pollock produced certain features in his paintings.

Full Speed Ahead: The Physical Art of SailingNovember 24, 2014 - A typical Olympic sailing race is a lot more energetic than a pleasurable afternoon cruise on the lake. Olympic sailors tip their masts precariously close to the water's surface while turning, right their vessels at what looks like the last possible moment, and bounce up and down over the edge of their boats on the straightaways. These unsteady sailing techniques, called "roll-tacking," "roll-jibing," and "flicking," propel boats faster through the racecourse.

The Secret of Dragonflies' FlightNovember 23, 2014 - Dragonflies can easily right themselves and maneuver tight turns while flying. Each of their four wings is controlled by separate muscles, giving them exquisite control over their flight.

The Physics of FizzinessNovember 23, 2014 - If you’ve ever raised a glass of champagne in celebration, you may have noticed tiny bubbles bursting on its surface. But did you know this little event, which is commonly seen in much greater scale on the ocean’s surface, involves a fascinating facet of physics?